Postgraduate Course: Emerging Entrepreneurship in Africa: Opportunities and Obstacles (CMSE11109)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 15 |
| Home subject area | Common Courses (Management School) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Africa has an unenviable reputation of lack of achievement, underdevelopment, poverty, rampant diseases such as HIV/AIDS, lack of security, military coups, genocide, lack of democracy, corrupt and parasitic politicians, very inefficient business production and management and stagnant economies. Yet there is a much more positive side to Africa too. In fact large parts of Africa are experiences unparalleled rates of economic growth and increases in prosperity. The African middle classes in particular are growing fast in numbers, and becoming serious consumers. Conditions have never been better for African entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, and contribute to economic development and prosperity.
The aim of this course is to examine the nature of new business opportunities in Africa, to gain insights on how a new generation of African entrepreneurs are exploiting these opportunities. Above all it seeks to raise awareness of the fact that Africa, to paraphrase the title of the text book, is truly rising.
Students will analyse business opportunties in Africa. How different are these opportunities from those found elsewhere? What kinds of competencies and skills are necessary to succeed in an African business context? From these analyses students will split into groups and develop either (a) an assessed business proposal and plan located in a specific African context; OR (b) an assessed growth plan for an existing African business OR (c) a research report on a specific topic..
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Weeks |
Monday |
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| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
On completion of the course students will be aware of the following issues:
The course aim is to develop a knowledge and an understanding of
&· Theory and principles of entrepreneurship and its applicability in the Africa context;
&· The special qualities of entrepreneurs and the characteristics of African entrepreneurs;
&· The nature of business opportunities in Africa, in particular which sectors and regions are registering the highest growth;
&· How African entrepreneurs are exploiting these opportunities, the nature of barriers and difficulties and how they are being overcome;
&· Awareness of future trends of development and growth and the role of entrepreneurs in this process.
&· Special problems and constraints of doping business in Africa
&· The ability to construct a realistic business plan or growth plan in the African business context
Cognitive Skills:
Cognitive skills to be developed are the ability to understand key concepts in the area of entrepreneurship and African development, to reflect upon them, and to apply them in the future to real world business situations.
Key Skills:
Key skills to be enhanced are:
&· the ability to research African entrepreneurship using secondary sources, to apply that knowledge to the analysis of business opportunity in Africa;
&· to increase abilities to work in groups;
&· to improve analytical research skills;
&· to improve oral and written communication skills.
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Assessment Information
The assessment is exclusively based on continuous assessment.
&· Individual assignment, 2000 word max (40%)
&· Group report or plan of 4000 words (45%)
&· presentation of report (15%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
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| Transferable skills |
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| Reading list |
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| Study Abroad |
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| Study Pattern |
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Peter Rosa
Tel: (0131 6)50 3798
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Rachel Allan
Tel: (0131 6)51 3757
Email: |
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